Opiumless and alkaloid-free non-narcotic opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) variety “Sujata”

Abstract

The present invention relates to an opiumless and alkaloid-free non-narcotic opium poppy designated as var. Sujata having the following morphological/argonomic features:

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for the development of an opiumless and alkaloid-free non-narcotic opium poppy plant by induced mutagenesis, comprising the steps of: 
       (a) selecting two high yielding opium varieties as parental materials designated as C1 and C2 for treatment with both physical and chemical mutagens;  
       (b) preparing eight samples containing at least 100 seeds of each of the C1 and C2 parents;  
       (c) irradiating five samples of C1 and C2 with gamma rays at 10,20,40,60 and 80 kR doses, respectively;  
       (d) treating a sixth sample with 0.4% aqueous ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and subjecting a seventh sample to combined treatment of gamma radiation at 20 kR dose followed by 0.4% treatment with aqueous EMS in both C1 and C2;  
       (e) leaving an eighth sample in each of the two parents, C1 and C2, untreated to be used as controls:  
       (f) growing all the eight samples including controls of both C1 and C2 parents in paired rows forming a M1 generation and selfing 15-20 plants in each of the treatments including controls in both parents before flowering;  
       (g) collecting selfed seeds on maturity in C1 and C2 based on phenotypic appearance and disease resistance separately for each treatment;  
       (h) raising the seeds collected in step (g) in plant-to-progeny rows forming a M2 generation along with interspersed paired rows of parental controls;  
       (i) subjecting the matured capsules formed 15-20 days after flowering in each and every plant of the M2 families and the two parental controls to examination of the presence or absence of latex oozing out on plucking a ray or two of the capsule;  
       (j) identifying the latexless (LL) and partial latex (PL) plants in each of the M2 families by examination of the presence or absence of latex oozing out on plucking a ray or two of the capsule, and collecting the open pollinated seeds of LL and PL plants separately;  
       (k) raising the suspected LL/PL mutant genotypic plants again in plant-to-progeny (paired) rows forming M3 families together with paired rows of the two controls in the M3 generation and selfing all the plants in each of the M3 families before the commencement of flowering;  
       (l) repeating examination of the presence or absence of latex oozing out on plucking a ray or two of the capsule in all of the suspected M3 families and isolating the M3 families relating to combined treatment of C1 with confirmed LL and PL mutant genotypic plants followed by collecting separately selfed seeds of all of the LL and PL plants on maturity; and  
       (m) re-confirming the LL and PL plants by examination of the presence or absence of latex oozing out on plucking a ray or two of the capsule and increasing their genetic purity through selfing and/or inbreeding by growing them again in plant-to-progeny (multiple) rows along with variable rows of C1 control (a M4 generation) followed by collecting selfed seeds separately on maturity.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical mutagen is gamma radiation. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical mutagen is ethyl methane sulfonate. 
     
     
       4. An opiumless and alkaloid-free non-narcotic opium poppy plant designated as variety Sujata having NCIMB Number 41009, and having the following characteristics: 
       a) 100-105 days to 50% flowering;  
       b) plant height of 80-100 cm;  
       c) patchy black peduncle having a length of 18-20 cm;  
       d) 3-4 capsules/branches per plant;  
       e) flat and glabrous capsules;  
       f) 10-12 small and flattened stigmatic rays per capsule;  
       g) 3040-3310 seed count per gram of weight;  
       h) dull white seeds with reniform shape;  
       i) seed yield of 120-140 g/m 2 ;  
       j) straw yield of 130-150 g/m 2 ;  
       k) absence of Opium alkaloids in the straw; and  
       l) no latex flow on incision.  
     
     
       5. The opiumless and alkaloid-free non-narcotic opium poppy plant of  claim 4  wherein said plant comprises 20.8 to 23.9% total seed protein. 
     
     
       6. The poppy plant of  claim 4 , wherein the seeds exhibit oil content and composition: 
       a) 50-51% oil content in seeds;  
       b) 12% palmitic acid (16:0);  
       c) 19% oleic acid (18:1); and  
       d) 56% linoleic acid (18:2).